Chapter 7

The car slowly drove into the Hansen family’s villa. Drake Hansen looked at the sleeping Shannora Hansen. He couldn’t bring himself to wake her up. He signaled the driver to stop, then gently carried her out of the car. He carefully carried her inside the villa and placed her in her bedroom.

“Prepare some light Chinese food for the young lady. Once she wakes up, have her come to my study.” Drake Hansen gave these instructions to the servant, then turned and entered the study. Sitting at his desk, he rubbed his forehead and began to think about how to get Shanora Hansen to accept Madeline Summer.

Shanora Hansen slept exceptionally deeply. It wasn’t until noon that she slowly woke up. Sunlight streamed through the gaps in the curtains, casting rays on the soft bed. She yawned and took a moment to realize that she was already home.

Thinking of her father’s stern face and the upcoming blind date, she couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on. But with no other choice, she had to steel herself and negotiate with her father.

After washing up, she went downstairs to have lunch. Seeing the table full of her favorite dishes, a warm feeling spread through her heart. Although her father was strict, he always loved her. After eating and drinking her fill, she took a deep breath, brewed a cup of her father’s favorite tea, and mustered the courage to head toward his study.

“Knock, knock, knock”—she gently knocked on the door.

“Come in.” Drake Hansen’s voice came from the study.

Shanora Hansen pushed the door open, wearing a sweet smile on her face. She placed the tea on the desk and said obediently, “Dad, you’ve worked hard. Have some tea to relieve your fatigue.”

Drake Hansen glanced up at her obsequious expression. Understanding what she meant, a barely noticeable smile curled his lips, though he pretended to remain serious. “So now you feel sorry for me? Why didn’t you think of how worried I’d be when you ran away from home?”

Shanora Hansen’s cheeks turned red. She grabbed his arm and gently shook it. “Dad, I was wrong. I won’t run away again. Please forgive me this time, okay?”

“I can forgive you,” Drake Hansen said, his tone shifting to seriousness. “But I can’t let you avoid the arranged meeting. Yanyan, Dad isn’t forcing you. I just want you to find someone reliable. When Dad and Mom are no longer here, someone will need to take care of you.”

Upon hearing the words “blind date,” Shannora Hansen’s smile vanished instantly. She let go of his arm and said urgently, “Dad, I know you mean well, but I don’t want to go on a blind date! In your time, people got married through blind dates, but things are different now. Nowadays, people fall in love freely. I want to find someone I really like, not someone you’ve chosen for me.”

“What’s wrong with the person I arranged?” Drake Hansen frowned. “Madre Summer is a handsome and capable young man. He’s already able to handle tasks on his own at such a young age. He’s a rare talent. He’s also a match for our family in terms of social status. What’s not good about him?”

“No matter how good he is, he’s not the one I like!” Xianola Hansen raised her voice in frustration, tears welling in her eyes. “Dad, marriage is my own decision. Only I know whether I’m happy or not. I don’t want to just marry someone because of family considerations or social status. What I want is love—a relationship based on mutual affection and willingness.”

“I also want to make you happy!” Drake Hansen looked at her upset expression and his tone softened. “I just think that Madeline Summer can bring you happiness. He’s steady and reliable, and he won’t let you get hurt. Look at you—you’re already twenty years old, and you’ve never even had a boyfriend. How can I not worry?”

“I haven’t been in love before, but that doesn’t mean I can’t find someone!” Xianola Hansen’s eyes were red. “I just haven’t met the right person yet. I can’t just pick someone random and settle for that kind of life, right? Dad, what I want is a love that lasts a lifetime, where two people truly belong together. It’s not about social status as you see it.”

Drake Hansen looked into his daughter’s determined eyes and felt somewhat hesitant. He knew his beloved daughter was stubborn by nature, and pushing her too hard would only backfire. After a long silence, he spoke slowly, his tone showing a hint of compromise: “You can try to find it yourself, if you want. But I have one condition.”

Shanora Hansen’s eyes lit up. She quickly asked, “What are the conditions? As long as I can fulfill them, I’ll agree to anything!” As long as she didn’t have to go on a blind date, she was willing to try whatever the conditions were.

Drake Hansen watched her eager expression and smiled slightly. He said slowly, “I’ll give you time. By the time you graduate, you must find someone who satisfies me and bring them home to meet me. If you fail to do so, or if I’m not satisfied with the person you choose, then you’ll have to go on a blind date with Madeline Summer. No more excuses, understand?”

Shanora Hansen was momentarily stunned, feeling a bit hesitant. Her father had high expectations, and satisfying him wasn’t easy. But then she thought again: As long as she could avoid blind dates for now and have time to find someone she liked on her own, that would be good enough.

She bit her lip and nodded firmly. “Okay! I promise! But Dad, please don’t try to make things difficult for me on purpose. As long as someone truly deserves my affection and is respectful to you, you shouldn’t object, okay?”

Drake Hansen smiled and nodded. “Don’t worry, Dad won’t make things difficult for you. As long as you’re happy, that’s all Dad cares about.” He already had his plans in mind. Madeline Summer would be returning to the country next month. By then, if he created more opportunities for the two of them, there was no reason why Shannora Hansen wouldn’t fall for him.

Shanora Hansen had no idea what her father was thinking. She simply felt relieved to be free from the hassle of blind dates for the time being. A sweet smile appeared on her face. “Thank you, Dad! You’re the best dad in the world!”

Seeing his daughter’s happy expression, Drake Hansen also smiled. He had no idea what kind of arrangements lay behind this seemingly fair agreement. Nor did he know that the people Shannora Hansen would meet in the future would completely disrupt his plans, leading everything in an unexpected direction.